Sport magazine issue 275 by Sport Magazine

Issue 275 | September 28 2012

The Ryder Cup starts here

R E T L U O P IAN

T U O S E M G O N C I G IN

SW ncle (Why U

yder C R s ’ e p Euro e k a t t ’ m won

ght)

ut a ﬁ o h t i w up

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The way players control the ball has been transformed, eliminating nearperfect touch for every player on the pitch, and creating more opportunities for defenders to win back possession. Poor passes are harder to control, enabling defenders to capitalise on errant balls and poor touches. Factors such as defensive pressure, trajectory of the ball, and velocity of the pass all factor into a player’s success.

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issue 275, september 28 2012 radar 09 Must Be Nice

New snowboarding film reminds us why we should have booked some piste time this winter

10 FIFA 13

Wondering why so few of your colleagues have made it into the office today? Wonder no more

12 Kicking and Screening A football film festival? In London? That’ll do nicely oFeatures this coming week

18 Ian Poulter

Europe’s talisman delivers his point to Sport before doing the same thing at the Medinah

27 Jose Maria Olazabal The Europe captain on what he learned from Seve – and how he will inspire his team

31 The Ryder Cup: The Teams We bring you the lowdown on each man teeing off in Illinois this week

35 Telly addict

Journalist and author Martin Kelner gives us a taste of his new book: Sit Down and Cheer

extra time

50 Gadgets

Standalone MP3 players – because sometimes you want to listen to music and not talk to anyone

52 Sophie Horn

Cover image by Antonio Petronzio

We don’t resist – too much – as our favourite golfer gives us her opinions on almost everything

55 Kit

We wouldn’t let the Ryder Cup pass without giving you three pages of top golf gear, would we?

58 Entertainment

Some of the best franchises in gaming are back with a bang | September 28 2012 | 07

EA SPORTS FIFA 13 ™

£42.99 out today

or p* when you trade in any two of our most wanted titles offer ends 4 October available on Xbox 360 & PS3 exclusive - get a free PlayStation+ subcription** exclusively at 150 Oxford Street, play demo in-store now

Titles and prices subject to availability while stocks last at participating stores/online. Prices may vary online. *Get FIFA 13 on PS3 or Xbox for 99p when you trade-in two selected games from our hmv most wanted list. See in-store for details. FIFA Ultimate Edition offer price will vary. **Get a 90 day PlayStation+ subscription only when you purchase FIFA 13 on PlayStation 3 from hmv Oxford Circus (150 Oxford Street), before close of business 30 September. See in-store for full details. © 2012 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, and the EA SPORTS logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Ofﬁcial FIFA licensed product. “© The FIFA name and OLP Logo are copyright or trademark protected by FIFA. All rights reserved.” Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. The Premier League Logo © The Football Association Premier League Limited 2006. The Premier League Logo is a trade mark of the Football Association Premier League Limited which is registered in the UK and other jurisdictions. The Premier League Club logos are copyright works and registered trademarks of the respective Clubs. All are used with the kind permission of their respective owners. Manufactured under license from the Football Association Premier League Limited. No association with nor endorsement of this product by any player is intended or implied by the license granted by the Football Association Premier League Limited to Electronic Arts. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

p10 – FIFA 13: it’s here. We’re there. You’re told off if you swear

Radar

p12 – Ken Block leaves skidmarks at Santa Pod p12 – The capital kicks and screens its way into autumn

Cold cuts

| September 28 2012 | 09

Colin Adair

or most of us, winter means big coats, cold ears and an all-consuming desire to get the hell out of this sodding country. Not for the chaps in Must Be Nice, a new film from snowboard manufacturer DC that follows the fortunes of its professional boarders over the course of a year. That includes them chucking themselves down mountains, getting riotously drunk and doing all sorts of things that their mothers would be horrified by. Featuring the on-piste talents of snowboarding legend Devun Walsh and others, the feature-length film gets its global premiere on Facebook on Monday. Meaning you don’t even have to leave the house to see it. Must Be Nice premieres free at facebook.com/DCSnowboarding on Monday October 9, and will also be available to download from iTunes

Radar

Pumped up kicks A

ny absent colleagues today? Don’t be surprised if they’re already halfway through a season on FIFA 13, which is in fine shape after its annual tweaks. The biggest change to gameplay this time is First Touch Control – no longer will your lumbering League One centre half be able to pluck the ball from the sky a la Dimitar Berbatov, as player ability and physics take effect. Once you are used to it, this lends a pleasingly realistic pace to the game, and you can use it to your advantage as well – a flick of the analog stick as you’re receiving the

ball can wrong-foot defenders, and cue endless debates with your mates about whether or not you meant it. Your charges can also think a couple of moves ahead, which can make for some rather lovely team goals. There are other nice touches – loading screen mini-games, Geoff Shreeves giving injury reports from the touchline and Kinect integration, which lets you shout out tactical changes and chastises you if you swear at the ref. Bloody marvellous.

Hot wheels W

e all know how it is when you’re longboarding to work on a weekday morning. Well, maybe not. But we do know that adding a spark of electricity to a mode of transport is almost always a positive move (with the notable exception of the Hindenburg), so the Boosted Board definitely caught our eye. It’s a longboard with embedded motors and handheld controls, propelling you along for up to six miles with no pesky pushing required. It’s like a Segway, but riding one won’t instantly destroy your street cred. Unless, like the guy pictured (right) you’re already way beyond help. Boosted Boards, from $1,199 plus postage, kickstarter.com

10 | September 28 2012 |

FIFA 13 is out today on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, PSP, PS Vita, 3DS and iOS

Radar

Burning rubber

lthough it looks like the aftermath of a particularly nasty traffic incident, what you’re actually looking at is a promotional shot for ‘Gymkhana,’ a competitive stunt-driving competition spearheaded by American rally driver Ken Block. Two drivers race round adjacent obstacle courses, doing tricks and racing to finish fastest.

This fuel-guzzling spectacle is coming to Northamptonshire’s Santa Pod Raceway next month, where Block will take on UK driver Luke Woodham. Check it out for the kind of skills they don’t teach you in driving lessons. They probably should – it’d be a lot more useful than reversing round a corner. Monster Energy Gymkhana at Santa Pod Raceway, October 27-28, santapod.co.uk

Goals on film I

Dan Fegent, Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bulls

f you thought the canon of football cinema began with Escape to Victory and ended with Shaolin Soccer, boy are you in for a shock. There’s a whole world of soccer ciné out there, and it’s celebrated in the second annual Kicking and Screening film festival in London. Hosted at cinemas across the capital, this year’s line-up features six UK premieres and two world premieres, and includes Thierry Henry, a documentary following the Frenchman in New York, and the kitschy Colin Firth adaptation of Fever Pitch. Several of the films are introduced by special guests from the world of football, including former Arsenal stars Tony Adams and Lee Dixon. Though if you raise a hand to ask a question, they might think you’re trying to play the offside trap and do the same. September 28-October 4. Visit kickingand screening.com/blog/london-2012.html

12 | September 28 2012 |

Telephone support H

it back at smug iPhone 5 owners and support your team simultaneously. This iPhone 4 case is finished natural cherry wood, with the letters engraved by laser. And don’t worry if your team is emphatically not the greatest team the world has ever seen – there’s a version for Liverpool fans as well. $25, threenil.com

Radar Editor’s letter A just cause: Anﬁeld celebrated the Hillsborough report’s release, with the majority of fans respectful www.sport-magazine.co.uk @sportmaguk facebook.com/sportmagazine Free iPad app available on Newsstand

Sport magazine Part of UTV Media plc 18 Hatﬁelds, London SE1 8DJ Telephone: 020 7959 7800 Fax: 020 7959 7942 Email: ﬁrstname.lastname@ sport-magazine.co.uk

Give football a break After many dark years, it seems to be doing its best – even if there’s a long way to go

T Editor-in-chief Simon Caney @simoncaney

he London Olympics were truly wonderful, but the idea that they might be used as a stick with which to beat another sport seems perverse. Yet still we hear how football is a disgrace compared to the Games. Even after the Hillsborough report was issued, there are those who claim football fans are thugs and its players little better. Yet the respect shown by more than 99 per cent of supporters at Anfield last weekend – where there was so much potential for something to go wrong, given the history between Liverpool and Man Utd – was exemplary. In any group of thousands of spectators (grouping together everyone who attended a football match last weekend), there will be idiots who deserve our contempt. So it was that the United fans who sang ’Always the victims, it’s never your fault’

should be identified and banned; as should, for that matter, the Liverpool fans who later issued death threats to referee Mark Halsey on social media networks. The idiots are in a tiny minority, though, where once they had a much greater voice. Racism is still heard at football grounds, but it is a fraction of what it was 25 years ago. It is taboo now, where once it was commonplace. I attended a game at Anfield between Liverpool and West Ham in May 1989, a month after Hillsborough. The atmosphere was toxic, stirred as we now know by the lies of police, politicians and The Sun. I like to think that if – God forbid – any similar set of circumstances prevailed today, then football, and its supporters, would get it right. I believe, finally, that football fans may actually respect one another. The game has a long way to go, no question. But let’s give it a chance.

The impact Seve Ballesteros had on European golf will never be forgotten, and this week – the ﬁrst Ryder Cup since his death – he will be at the forefront of our thoughts. He was the ultimate Ryder Cup warrior, who once famously said: “I look into their eyes, shake their hand, pat their back and wish them luck, but inside I am thinking: ‘I am going to bury you.’” When the going gets tough for Europe this weekend, and it surely will with a raucous Chicago crowd, they need only remember that Seve would have relished it. Bring it on. Last week, a Sport team took part in the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay – a 10-person event around the City of London, of which we were the media partner. Everyone ran a mile, and considering our ambition was to not come last, we were delighted to finish (very out of breath) 65th of 98. Full results in our iPad edition this week.

Editorial Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951) Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897) Art editor: John Mahood (7860) Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861) Digital designer: Chris Firth (7624) Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431) Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915) Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914) Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961) Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963) Contributors: Martin Barry, Paul Mahoney, David Lawrenson Commercial Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991) Business Director (Magazine and iPad): Paul Brett (7918) Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930) New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904) Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852) Distribution Assistant: Makrum Dudgeon Head of Online: Matt Davis (7825) Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam Bullock PA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826) Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd © UTV Media plc 2012 UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine £1 where sold Hearty thanks this week to: Gemma Oakes, Charlotte Templeton

Cover of the Year

@simoncaney @Sportmaguk keeping hillsborough in news until justice is done is vital. Keep up good work.

@rob_thomas1710 via email

14 | September 28 2012 |

Well done for keeping the Hillsborough story going. Justice must now be done.

Peter, via email

Best opening paragraph to an article about me I’ve ever seen! And the photos aren’t bad either! Thanks @Sportmaguk

@andrewthodge Twitter

The lovely @andrewthodge is looking v.dapper in @sportmaguk this morning. Perks/problems of being an Olympic gold medallist eh?!

Well done to @sportmaguk for doing another @UFC feature in the mag this week – maybe they’re finally waking up to #MMA

@cymruangel Twitter

@laylett Twitter

LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

2008

Total Average Distribution: 305,676 Jan-Jun 2012 Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean

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Reader comments of the week

Frozen in time

16 | September 28 2012 |

A point for anyone who knows where in the world the Trango Towers can be found... that’s right, Pakistan – they’re part of the Baltoro Muztagh, a subrange of the Karakoram range. We all knew that, of course. But if you’ve ever clambered up one of the Trango Towers’ near-vertical, icy faces using little more than rope, hands and some big old balls, then have yourself a bonus point! And the results just in: unless your name’s David Lama, we’re afraid you didn’t win. The prize is in the post, David.

| 17

Corey Rich/Red Bull Content Pool

Range rover

Ryder Cup 2012 Ian Poulter

LET’S GO TO WAR

RYDER CUP 2012 SPECIAL

The Ryder Cup is golf’s great reducer, a tournament designed to make quivering wrecks of the game’s biggest names. But, as Europe prepares to take on the US, Ian Poulter tells Sport why he’s as fearless as ever... hen the American golfer Billy Casper was asked what it felt like to be standing on the ﬁrst tee at a Ryder Cup, he answered a question with a question: ”Did you ever try to hit a golf ball without any oxygen in your system?” When Irishman Philip Walton was asked what it had been like to stand over what would ultimately be the winning putt at Oak Hill in 1995, he said: ”I could feel the hair standing on the back of my head... and then my right leg started shaking.” When they asked his compatriot Padraig Harrington what it felt like teeing it up on the first, on his Ryder Cup debut in 1999, he laughed nervously: ”I couldn’t see the golf ball. I was just so nervous, I couldn’t even see it.” But at least he had a ball to address. ”I could not get the ball on the tee,” laughs Lee Westwood of his nerve-filled fumbling in 1997. ”It’s quite funny watching it now on television.”

Photography by Antonio Petronzio

Funny now, but not back then. Not when Westwood found himself in golf’s great spotlight – watched by thousands around him at Valderrama and a global audience in the millions... all of them rabidly partisan, all of them watching and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Harrington has six Ryder Cup appearances to his name, but it never got much easier for him. ”As it’s happening,” he reflected, ”You’re thinking: ’Why am I doing this?’” Of them all, though, Ronan Rafferty summed the terror of representing Europe up best, remembering his Ryder Cup debut at the Belfry in 1989. ”I played with Bernhard Langer in the opening foursomes, and he was down to hit the first shot,” the Northern Irishman explains. ”When we eventually got to the tee, there were 80,000 people watching, lining the hole. Bernhard asked me, the rookie, how I was feeling. I told him I was fine. He said: ’Good, you can hit the first shot.’ Then I was shitting myself!” >

| September 28 2012 | 19

Ryder Cup 2012 Ian Poulter

Want more?

They all soil their strides, it seems. Every man on either side – even the ones who don’t let on. No one is immune to the unique horror of teeing it up in the most terrifying sporting event on the planet. Apart from Ian James Poulter, that is. The man they call The Postman.

For whom the bell tolls Ian Poulter has played in three previous Ryder Cups – one in Europe, two in the white heat of the US of A. When you ask him about the pressure of representing an entire continent in a Ryder Cup, he just laughs. ”The Ryder Cup? That isn’t pressure, I love it,” he says, his eyes bulging wide. ”I ab-so-lutely love it and I cannot wait for it. Honestly, I love it. Bring it on!” And then, by way of confirmation, he laughs again. As you read this, some 4,000 miles away in Illinois, Poulter and his Euro pals are preparing to take Uncle Sam on in his own back yard in the 39th Ryder Cup, surrounded on all sides by patriotic Americans chugging Bud and baying for European blood. At the time of this interview, however, we’re at the more sedate Woburn Golf Club, Poulter’s home course when he’s not residing in Orlando and ripping around the PGA Tour. It feels hotter than Florida and Poulter is dressed accordingly and entirely as you’d expect: a box-fresh white polo shirt, pristine red slacks with a dangerously sharp crease, plus a complementing red sun visor. He tops this off with a pair of reassuringly expensive red and white sunglasses. We can’t see his underpants today, but we’d wager they are colour co-ordinated to complete the ensemble (Poulter suffers sartorial OCD and admits even his coat hangers have to be lined up with the IJP logos facing the same way). Europe head for Medinah as Ryder Cup holders after edging it 14½-13½ at Celtic Manor two years ago.

20 | September 28 2012 |

At around 1.20pm our time, a bell will toll, the baying mob will fall silent and one very brave chap will step forward. He will try to focus on his ball and take a swing. If the occasion doesn’t Special delivery: Poulter suck the breath from his body, the tees off in 2010 (above); ball should head long and more or less and (inset) faces Tiger straight down the middle, and he’ll in the fourballs breathe a sigh of relief. At the time of writing, we don’t know who will take that first shot – but if it’s Ian Poulter, he’ll laugh in the face of fear. It first manifested itself in junior football, where he ”Nervous? Nope. I’ll be excited being up there – took every free-kick and attempted repeatedly to really, really excited,” he says. ”Because the way I see score direct from corner kicks. When he took up golf it is, if I’m standing on that tee, then I’m completely professionally, the boy’s fizz was quickly picked up on in control of the situation. And if I’m in control, then by his first boss in the club shop at John O’Gaunt Golf there’s absolutely nothing for me to be worried about Club in Bedfordshire, who likened him to a peacock – because the crowd won’t affect how I play my shot.” the bigger the occasion and the greater the attention, The cold, hard statistics bear out that claim. the greater Poulter’s focus and performance. A maestro of matchplay golf, Poulter’s previous No pressure three Ryder Cup appearances have yielded a highly impressive eight points from 11 – hence them dubbing So why, unlike so many of his colleagues, does he feel no fear? ”Because I realised representing Europe in the him ’The Postman’. The fact he needed a wildcard pick Ryder Cup is one of the best stages I could possibly be to make the team after narrowly finishing outside the at,” says Poulter. ”I’ll be honest – I felt the heat before qualification places is neither here nor there. my first tee shot on my first Ryder Cup, but I quickly ”I said at the end of play two years ago, if Poulter realised it should excite me. You should try having to was 50th on the list, you would pick him,” says hit a green from 225 yards in pre-qualifying for Tour victorious 2010 captain Colin Montgomerie. ”It’s just School, with your whole career on the line and a narrow the confidence of the guy, and that’s what any captain gap in the trees to get through. Now that is pressure. wants: a team full of confidence.” If I hadn’t made that shot I wouldn’t be here today.” Poulter’s confidence is legendary, of course. By now, we’re merely here to take notes and nod. Such chutzpah means he sports pink trousers with Poulter is on one of his favourite subjects, and on a roll. not an iota of irony and, in 2008, could claim that only he was fit to challenge the then-peerless Tiger Woods. ”It feels unlike anything else you experience in golf and you try to soak it up as much as you can,“ he says. > He was born this way, he says, making no apology.

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Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images, Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

To see Ian Poulter explaining why he’s always late – and why the Americans ruin a bacon sandwich – download our app version of Sport magazine now

ALAN FRANK, THE DAILY STAR

FIRST THEY TOOK HIS DAUGHTER. NOW THEY’RE COMING FOR HIM

I N C I N E M AS O CTO B E R 4 TakenMovie

Ryder Cup 2012 Ian Poulter

Joy ride: British captain George Duncan is presented with the cup by founder Samuel Ryder (above); Justin Leonard and the US go crazy on the 17th green at Brookline (below)

“When you’re on the first tee, you find your senses are heightened so that, as you’re waiting, you can feel and hear every single thing. Then the bell goes, you step up and you go into a kind of tunnel vision where everything gets shut out and you’re focusing only on that shot. If you’re not focusing entirely, if you allow anything else to creep in, you’re going to be in trouble.” Luckily, Poulter is rarely in trouble in the Ryder Cup. The Postman always delivers – or, at least, delivers when it matters. His eight from 11 record made his inclusion in the team a formality for José María Olazábal, Europe’s captain and one half of the most celebrated pairing in Ryder Cup history. The other half, of course, was Severiano Ballesteros, the man who dragged Europe off its backside and took the fight to the Americans. No European has ever played the Ryder Cup with such ferocious passion as Seve, but the fist-pumping, eyes-bulging Poulter comes close. ”Why does it mean so much to me? I think the Ryder Cup does strange things to people because the stakes are so high,” he laughs. ”I think it’s partly the camaraderie you have with your teammates, which I love, and partly the energy you get from the fans. At any regular event, golf fans are generally there

to watch 155 guys play – they respect the game and if you play a good shot, they’ll clap. In the Ryder Cup, you’ve got 20 to 30,000 fans cheering solely for you and your team, watching matchplay golf in which every shot counts. And that just gives it a completely different vibe. That just brings out the extra passion in me. I feed off them and they feed off me.” In 2010, Poulter was photographed screaming at his playing partner Graeme McDowell after victory (see overleaf). The image both confused and terrified his young daughter. ”She couldn’t look at that picture without flinching,” he told Golf World. ”She says: ’Daddy, you look very frightening.’” Does he ever look back at the shots of him, eyes exploding, and wonder what the hell possessed him? ”Ha, not at all. I mean, listen, if you don’t get excited playing in the Ryder Cup, what’s the point?”

Showing some brass The Ryder Cup was born in 1927 as a test of golfing prowess between the finest golfers Great Britain had to offer and their American adversaries. The brainchild of British entrepreneur Samuel Ryder, he hoped the biennial event would ”influence a cordial, friendly and peaceful feeling throughout the whole civilised world” and be ”a powerful force that influences the best things in humanity”. But between 1927 and 1971, all it did was

“The crowd brings out the extra passion in me” 22 | September 28 2012 |

Friday The RydeR Cup: day 1 | Medinah CounTRy Club, illinois | sky spoRTs 1 12.30pM

confirm how mismatched the two tribes were. The US won 16 of the first 19 tournaments, so they bent the rules in 1973 and GB became Great Britain and Ireland. With the Americans still winning the next three tournaments, the public’s interest began to wane. ”In America the Ryder Cup now rates somewhere between Tennessee Frog jumping and the Alabama Melon-Pip Spitting Championship,” noted journalist Peter Dobereiner. So, in 1979, GB&I became Europe – and the balance of power finally began to shift. Our brave chaps almost won it in 1983, when it went into the final day’s singles tied 8-8. US captain Jack Nicklaus was gripped by the fear of failure. ”I will not be the first captain to blow this thing,” he told his team. ”Now you guys show me some brass.” Thanks largely to a wonder shot from Lanny Wadkins, the US showed him enough brass to sneak it 14½-13½, and Nicklaus was later heard chuckling: ”Lanny, that little son of a gun. He needs a wheelbarrow to carry his brass around!” But finally, in 1985 at the Belfry, Seve, Woosnam, Faldo, Torrance and Langer swept Europe to victory, 16½-11½. For the first time since 1957, the USA had failed to retain what had become their birthright, which they didn’t much like. At Kiawah Island in 1991, the Americans won back the cup after six years amid claims of brinksmanship in the infamous ’War on the Shore’. It reminded us of Peter Alliss’ view: that the Ryder Cup is not a showcase for the best things in humanity, more just ”two teams trying to knock seven bells out of each other”. >

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just incredible," he smiles. "We went to that Harbour

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Ryder Cup 2012 Ian Poulter

he urges caution. ”There won’t be any grief out there, believe me,” he says. ”I’ve played in three Ryder Cups and I know there will be a lot of respect between the teams and from the fans on both sides. There is still a huge, huge rivalry and it will get heated. But not in a negative way. Hole your putt, give it a bit of the old fist pump and that’s all you need. I don’t think it helps anyone or represents the game in a good way for things to get ’nasty’ out there. It will be a very healthy rivalry.” When Europe won the Ryder Cup in 2010, Poulter took the trophy home and ate cereals from it, sharing the moment on Twitter. Golf’s blazered brigadiers spat out their port and lemon at this. Being reminded of the uproar now elicits a good-natured rage in Poulter. ”Listen,” he booms, pounding the table with his fist. ”If I’m prepared to give blood, sweat and tears to win that trophy, then I have the right to get my hands on it for a couple of days and I’d say it’s my trophy to pretty much do whatever I want. Within reason.” Within reason? ”Yes,” he grins. ”Believe me, Cheerios is not even close to being the worst thing that’s been in that trophy.” Can he expand on the worst thing that has been in the Ryder Cup trophy? Yes he can. But he won’t – consider it a golfing omertà. Would he do it again, should Europe prevail? ”Of course I would,” he laughs. ”In a heartbeat. It’s only the stuffy brigade that get wound up by it. They just need to lighten up.”

“If you don’t get excited playing in the Ryder Cup, what’s the point?” Eight years later, the noble auld game descended into terrifying farce with the ’Battle of Brookline’, which ended with American players trampling over the 17th green while Olazábal lined up his putt. ”I have never been more scared in my life on a golf course than I was at Brookline,” claimed European Tour bigwig Ken Schofield afterwards, his ears ringing to the cries of ’Kill, kill!’ and ’Bring out the body bags!’.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Fever pitch Bridges have been rebuilt since Brookline, the tragedy of 9/11 being credited with realigning a few perspectives and helping thaw relations. The fact so many Europeans now ply their trade in the States and face the Americans week in, week out has also helped. Even so, Colin Montgomerie has warned that Medinah will be ”an environment where the US will crank up the atmosphere to fever pitch” – an atmosphere in which Europe’s players will need a barrow-load of brass of their own if they are to retain their trophy. Back at our table in sunny Woburn, Poulter rubs his hands at the prospect of showing his own brass. But while another smile breaks out across his face,

24 | September 28 2012 |

Let battle commence Before we wrap up, we come to the big question: who’s winning this, the 39th Ryder Cup? ”If you look at the world rankings, the teams are extremely closely matched and probably the deepest they’ve ever been,” he says, for once less sure of himself. ”So it’s too hard to predict which way it will go.” This may be fence-sitting of the vilest brand, but he does have a point. The US team average a higher position in the world rankings than the Europeans, but Europe boasts three of the top four players in the world. Europe is a team, the US has the greater individuals, we suggest. But Poulter’s not about to clamber down from his fence. ”In previous Ryder Cups, we’ve definitely been able to gel better than the Americans, which has contributed to the team’s success,” he says. ”But the guys on the US team have all become much closer in recent years, and I expect this year’s matches to be some of the best ever.” Will home advantage be any real advantage? ”It’s an advantage because of the fans they’ll have cheering for them, but that won’t be a difference-maker,” says Poulter. ”You still have to hit the shots and make the putts, and no amount of home fans can affect that.” That won’t stop the Americans from trying, of course. But Poulter, for one, cannot wait. ”I love the battle,” he smiles. Fortunately for him – if not his teammates – the waiting is finally over. Nick Harper Ian Poulter uses COBRA PUMA GOLF equipment and footwear. See cobrapumagolf.com for details

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RYDER CUP 2012 SPECIAL

Ryder Cup 2012 Jose Maria Olazabal

PASSIOn PLAY

He earned his Ryder Cup spurs as Seve Ballesteros’ sidekick. Now Jose Maria Olazabal has the big job, and nobody is better qualiﬁed

hen the 21-year-old Jose Maria Olazabal made his Ryder Cup debut in 1987, he ended the week dancing a flamenco across a green after helping Europe win for the fist time in the United States. That victory, beating Jack Nicklaus’ team on his own course at Muirfield Village, Ohio, not only came in an era of European dominance in this biennial dust-up; it also ushered in the legendary pairing of Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros. Seve and Ollie, the sorcerer and his apprentice, became Europe’s most feared double act in Ryder Cup history. They played 15 matches together up to 1993. They won 11 times, halved twice and lost only twice. So, 16 months after European golf’s adored talisman Ballesteros lost his fight with cancer, his influence will still loom large as captain Olazabal sends out his players to tee off in the 39th Ryder Cup today.

“Obviously I miss Seve,“ Olazabal says. “I miss his desire, his passion, his will, his determination – all those elements that made him so special. He never gave up, and he always believed we could turn things around, whatever the situation. The last time [at Celtic Manor in 2010], Seve spoke on the telephone the night before the match and it lifted the whole team. I have never experienced so much energy around another player. “I’ve seen great players – Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods – but Seve was extra-special. The way he talked, the way he moved around the greens. The way he looked at you, the way he looked at the opponents. The way he looked at the crowd, the way he played. The intensity of everything around him, the way he fought. And he did that every single day. There was an aura around him. We all know how important he was for

European golf, and I’m sure his spirit will be with us in the team room at Medinah.“

All over the place Olazabal says he has no intention of replicating the loving but dictatorial, control-freak father approach that so consumed the passionate and uber-competitive Seve as he buzzed around Valderrama in his buggy when he was a victorious captain in Spain in 1997. “He was really all over the place,“ Olazabal recalls. “I don’t know how he managed to be in so many places at the same time. He was very close to the players – sometimes a little too close, trying to hit the shots. I’m not going to go that far. I remember he made a phone call at three in the morning to Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was vice-captain [as he is again], and said to him: ’Come to my room because I’ve had a few ideas for pairings tomorrow, and I need to discuss that with you.’ >

| September 28 2012 | 27

Ryder Cup 2012 Jose Maria Olazabal

Days in the sun: Olazabal and Ballesteros shake hands at Kiawah Island in 1991 and (inset) Ollie leans on Seve for a better view

Bob Thomas/Getty Images, David Cannon/Allsport

I’m not going to be waking up at 3am and calling any of my vice-captains to check on pairings...“ Olazabal is a quietly spoken gentleman who is respected on both sides of the Atlantic, but US captain Davis Love knows he is no soft touch. While Seve had a short fuse, Olazabal’s is a slow-burner – but when he blows his top, blood can be spilled. There were nearly fisticuffs in 2008 at Valhalla, Kentucky, in Nick Faldo’s post-defeat press conference. A raging Olazabal didn’t like the tone of a question directed at his captain from a British reporter; he interjected, sending a death stare across the room and a volley of how dare yous. The Spaniard stopped just short of inviting the reporter to say that again outside, but this is a warning for anyone lulled into a false sense of security by his charming disposition: there is fire in Olazabal’s belly. The Europeans in the team room in 2008 witnessed a further example of what to

28 | September 28 2012 |

“We are still going to try to beat each other like hell” expect from Olazabal, when the then vicecaptain gave what has become a legendary but closely guarded impassioned speech on the eve of the final day’s singles matches. Europe lost, but the Spaniard displayed his unquestionable leadership qualities. “What I said wasn’t that important,“ he says. “It was the way I said it, because it came from my heart. That’s the way I am. I’m a soft, sentimental guy. I will tell the players in Chicago what the Ryder Cup means to me, and talk from my heart. Hopefully that will be enough to reach them and make them play a little harder. But what I have learned is that everything is right or wrong. There is nothing in between. That is the way it is. You have to live with that.“

Entente cordiale Olazabal and Love agree there will be no repeat of any shenanigans between the players that left a bad feeling after the Ryder Cups of 1991 and 1999 in particular. “The relationship between the players is one of respect now,“ Olazabal insists. “A lot of

Europeans play in the States and we know each other better. We have left behind those years when the atmosphere was not good.“ The same, sadly, cannot always be said about crowd behaviour. The home fans in Kentucky in 2008 were whipped up into a frenzy by US captain Paul Azinger, and encouraged to cheer missed putts by Europeans. Chicago this weekend is expected to provide the raucous backdrop characteristic of a major sporting city, but Love and Olazabal are promoting a rowdy yet fair contest. “I know Chicago will be loud,“ Olazabal says. “They love their sport, and I’m not going to judge them based on two or three idiots who might say the wrong thing at the wrong time.“ In this new era of entente cordiale, both captains say they will continue the recent tradition of the teams coming together to party on Sunday night, and leave as friends afterwards. “But don’t be mistaken,“ Olazabal adds. “Even though we have a lot of respect for each other, we are still competitive – and are going to try to beat each other like hell.“ Paul Mahoney

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RYDER CUP 2012 SPECIAL

Europe FRANCESCO MOLINARI Played alongside brother Edoardo in 2010 but failed to get any wins on the board in three attempts. He’s certainly improved in the two years since (unlike his brother, who has got worse) but may not get much time on the course.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL

CAPTAIN One of the greatest Ryder Cuppers ever, forming a near-unbeatable partnership with Seve Ballesteros (they lost just two out of 15 matches together), Olazabal will surely be an inspirational skipper. If anyone can channel Seve’s passion and pass it on to his team, then it is he. And while he seems mild-mannered, nothing will give him greater pleasure than sticking it to Uncle Sam. He’ll want a rout.

P3 W0 L2 H1

LUKE DONALD Came of age in 2010, winning two foursomes points and seeing off Jim Furyk in the singles. Before long he’d won the WGC Matchplay title and become world number one. Still to win a major, but he's a matchplay assassin.

JUSTIN ROSE Inexplicably missed the 2010 match, but having him back in the team is a huge boost. Quite simply one of the best in the world, and unfazed by the big occasion. Expect him to team up with Ian Poulter and do some damage. P4 W3 L1 H0

P33 W16 L11 H6

MARTIN KAYMER

SERGIO GARCIA

NICOLAS COLSAERTS

P4 W2 L1 H1

P24 W14 L6 H4

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Many will see him as a weak link, but probably not Olazabal. Lawrie has been supremely consistent in 2012 and is famously strong in bad weather. The Chicago forecast this week is not good: the Rain Man will be in his element. P5 W3 L1 H1

LEE WESTWOOD

P 11 W8 L2 H1

If there’s one man who can rival Westwood’s ball-striking, it is Garcia, who brings a Seve-esque intensity to the Ryder Cup. Olazabal will wind him tighter than a watchspring in the locker room, open the door and unleash hell.

PAUL LAWRIE

A bold wildcard choice for Olazabal (Padraig Harrington would have been the safe option), Colsaerts gives his skipper options. He hits the ball a mile, and could be a star for Europe – especially in the fourball format. ROOKIE

GRAEME McDOWELL Will probably partner wonderboy McIlroy, but G-Mac is a terrific player in his own right and holed the winning putt at Celtic Manor. Keeps the ball straight and holes clutch putts under pressure – the perfect combination. P8 W4 L2 H2

PETER HANSON

Like Donald, his CV won’t be complete until he has won a major, but nobody hits the ball better tee to green than Westwood. His laidback approach means he’s a perfect partner – expect Ollie to give him a rookie or two.

P31 W18 L8 H5

Hard to think Kaymer was world number one just 18 months ago – he’s been in freefall ever since and is now ranked 32. Unless he has particularly impressed Olazabal in practice, it’s hard to see him getting out much before the singles.

You can’t miss Olazabal’sm en – they’ll be decked out in bright orange

The forgotten man of Celtic Manor, where he won one point from three, Hanson qualified off the world points list – which shows what a good year he has had. Plays well in big tournaments and seems unflappable. P3 W1 L2 H0

RORY McILROY Nobody in the world is even close to playing as well as McIlroy right now and, having experienced the unique pressure of the Ryder Cup in 2010, the youngest man in the competition will be ready. He’s the best player there – and he’ll prove it. P4 W1 L1 H2

IAN POULTER What else is there to say about our cover star? He’s a supreme competitor, a brilliant matchplayer and the talisman of this European team. His infectious confidence will be as valuable in the locker room as it is on the course. P11 W8 L3 H0

| September 28 2012 | 31

All pictures Getty Images

Meet the teams

RYDER CUP 2012 SPECIAL

Meet the teams

USA BUBBA WATSON

The Masters champ should be a lock for the fourballs, with his booming drives and ability to pluck birdies out of nowhere. He’s a better player than his debut in 2010, but it’s still hard to see Love picking him for the foursomes. P4 W1 L3 H0

JASON DUFNER

One of the world’s form players earlier this year, and could be a surprise package. Makes lots of birdies (great for fourballs) and keeps the ball in play (ditto foursomes). Could get a lot of game time if he’s impressed in practice. ROOKIE

Only three of the victorious team from four years ago at Valhalla have made it to Medinah

KEEGAN BRADLEY

Another rookie, last year’s PGA champion is a serious talent. One of a select group to average more than 300 yards off the tee this year, and has few obvious weaknesses to his game. Don’t be surprised if he racks up the points. ROOKIE

WEBB SIMPSON

Ladies and gentlemen, your US Open champion, lest you forget. Seemingly the ultimate journeyman made good, but Simpson does have the mentality for the big occasion. His presence should hold no fears for Europe, however. ROOKIE

DAVIS LOVE III

CAPTAIN No stranger to the team game, Love teamed up with Fred Couples (vice-captain this week) to win the World Cup of Golf four times on the spin in the 1990s. Highly respected by his team and still competitive on Tour, but can’t offer Olazabal’s intensity or motivational skills. P26 W9 L12 H5

All pictures Getty Images

MATT KUCHAR

Succeeded Tiger Woods as US Amateur champ in 1997, but has played in only one Ryder Cup despite 15 years in golf’s upper echelons. Arrived at Celtic Manor as the form player in 2010, but was famously taken down by Ian Poulter. P4 W1 L1 H2

32 | September 28 2012 |

ZACH JOHNSON

JIM FURYK

The key to any matchplay golf is holing putts, and when he’s on song there are few more dead-eyed than Johnson. Doesn’t hit it miles, but then neither does Luke Donald. Has enjoyed a renaissance in 2012 and could be key.

One of Love’s wildcards, presumably to bring some experience to a team that has more than its share of rookies. Furyk is a doughty competitor but his Ryder Cup record has been poor since his debut in 1997. A bridge too far for Jimbo.

P7 W3 L3 H1

PHIL MICKELSON

Has bewitched spectators and opponents alike for years with his sublime short game, but has won just 11 matches out of 34 in eight Ryder Cup appearances – and has never really gelled with any partner either. P34 W11 L17 H6

P27 W8 L15 H4

TIGER WOODS

He may be one of the greatest players of all time, and he led the points standing for US qualification, but Tiger is still a long way from the player he once was – and the Ryder Cup has never really inspired his very best golf. P29 W13 L14 H2

BRANDT SNEDEKER

Golf’s new $11m man, Sneds stormed into a massive lead at the Open, only to fall away over the weekend. Hugely talented but question marks remain over his mental fortitude for the big occasion. He might suffer this week. ROOKIE

DUSTIN JOHNSON

No surprise Love opted to give Johnson a wildcard – he’s been in solid form for the last two months and gives his captain another massive driver. This US team is long: don’t be surprised to see Love push back the tee boxes. P4 W1 L3 H0

STEVE STRICKER

The oldest player in Love’s team at 45, Stricker will almost certainly get the job of partnering Tiger Woods – they won twice on the first day at Celtic Manor. Stricker’s a tough nut, but his 2012 form has been average at best. P7 W3 L3 H1

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Martin Kelner

To coincide with his new book on the very subject, TV critic Martin Kelner sits down (well, stays sat down) to select his ﬁve most momentous moments in televised sporting history England v Germany, World Cup Final 1966 There will come a time when we will be like First World War veterans, those of us who were around to watch England win the World Cup in 1966. Young reporters will crouch at our feet and ask what it was like to be alive in that hour. Frankly, no big deal. No, really not. We had great players, we were England, and there would be many more World Cups, European Championships and victories over the old enemy Scotland in the Home International Championships to come – or so we thought. It is only in retrospect that the 4-2 victory over Germany has become such a landmark. Just 21 years before that afternoon in July 1966, the nation had celebrated another rather more crucial victory over Germany. Manchester, where I grew up, was still studded with bombsites. Compared with the conflict we had so relatively recently survived, the World Cup was small beer.

The man who called the match on the BBC – I’ve never met anyone who watched it on ITV – was a war hero himself. An RAF man, the late Kenneth Wolstenholme flew a hundred missions over enemy territory – and, unlike dozens of his comrades, survived to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. Understandable, then, that he might be a tad phlegmatic about a mere football match. Even his famous valedictory words – “They think it’s all over. It is now” – were scarcely noted at the time. By 5.30pm, the TV coverage was over. By Monday morning, the greatest moment in the history of English football was nothing more than a back-page story. If we had known of the 48 (at least) years of hurt to follow, we should have made more of a fuss. Leeds v Wakefield, Rugby League Cup Final 1968 Leeds met local rivals Wakefield in the so-called Watersplash Final. A torrential

Fox Photos/Getty Images

“Sod this, chaps, get the footy on!” storm left Wembley looking like a boating lake. But these were rugby league players – semi-professionals, many of whom spent the rest of the week crawling through dark, dank tunnels hewing coal – so a little rain wasn’t going to stop the match. With Leeds leading 11–7 and seconds to go, Wakefield winger Kenny Hirst hacked at a loose ball on the halfway line, raced past the Leeds defence and slid over for a try. 11-10 (three-point tries in those days) to Leeds, with a kick to come, from right in front of the posts. The easiest of conversions meant victory, surely, for the small-town team, with the last kick of the match. But Wakefield’s Don Fox – normally a most reliable kicker – skewed it wide, ceding victory to Leeds. The camera focused on the disconsolate Fox, and commentator Eddie Waring showed an empathy that only someone who lived and breathed the 13-a-side game could. “He’s a poo-er lad, he’s a poo-er lad,” said Waring, as Fox trudged off the pitch while teammates and rivals tried in vain to console him. “What a moment to live with.” For me, those few moments at the end of the game, and Waring’s classic commentary, epitomised the sport that is rugby league. >

| September 28 2012 | 35

Martin Kelner

Miller/Keystone/Getty Images

West Ham v Eintracht Frankfurt, European Cup Winners’ Cup Semi Final 1976 In the 1970s I moved down south to work, and in the absence of the rugby league I had grown up watching, I needed a football team to support. I chose West Ham, almost at random, just in time for the 1974-75 FA Cup run. I was at Wembley for the win in the final, and the die was cast. I was West Ham till I die. Next season, Trevor Brooking played the football of his life, and Billy Bonds and Frank Lampard were at their buccaneering best. West Ham appeared to be on ITV’s The Big Match almost every Sunday, and I always felt commentator Brian Moore had a soft spot for us. He was behind the mic for the second leg of this Cup Winners’ Cup semi final, where we needed to pull back a 2-1 deficit from the game in Germany. After a goalless first half, Moore seemed to be almost willing us to score, which we did three times. As much as the football – Brooking scored a beauty – it is the operatic swoop of Moore’s voice I remember most. That night, he seemed as close to being a fan as it is safe for a commentator to get. Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon Final 2008 When the world’s top two players met in the 2008 final, the quality of the tennis was confirmation that this was a golden age for the men’s game. Tennis is a fascinating sport to watch on TV – this contest especially so.

36 | September 28 2012 |

“Those few moments at the end of the game epitomised rugby league”

The close-ups give you the unique opportunity to become an amateur psychologist as you search for clues that one or other of the players may be wilting under pressure, or strangely seems almost scared to deliver his opponent the knockout blow. I wonder if there was a little of that in this match, with Nadal seemingly cruising. At two sets up, he was ready to claim the crown from the older player. But he unaccountably let his rival back in, losing the next two sets on tie-breaks. Now the momentum was with Federer, and the match was surely his. But, in another twist, the Spaniard squeaked home in an epic final set. For twists and turns, there’s nothing like five sets of tennis, and the BBC covers Wimbledon brilliantly. It was the first sport it televised, back in 1937, and this match proved the corporation correct in their continued cherishing of the rights. Dennis Taylor v Steve Davis, World Snooker Championship Final 1985 We will never see its like again. Certainly, BBC Two is unlikely ever to attract an audience of 18.5 million again – for anything. It remains a record for the channel and for an aftermidnight audience. The nation propped its eyes open with matchsticks for the astonishing climax of a match lasting 35 frames and 15 hours between defending champion Steve Davis and Northern Irish challenger Dennis Taylor.

Watching winners: Leeds hold their captain and the cup aloft in 1968 (above); Dennis Taylor celebrates snatching the World Snooker Championship (inset)

Remarkably, Taylor recovered from 8-0 down to take Davis to the final ball of the final frame. Still, Davis could have won, but uncharacteristically played a nervous shot on the black, and Taylor sunk the final ball at 18 minutes after midnight to win the match. ’Whispering’ Ted Lowe’s understated commentary somehow served to ramp up the tension in the climactic frame. Like tennis, snooker is a great game for television, allowing for lots of close-ups. My favourite is the shot of the player slumped in his chair realising his opponent is about to clean up and there is nothing he can do about it. I doubt the Crucible Theatre has ever staged anything quite as dramatic as the 1985 final between Davis and Taylor. Sit Down and Cheer by Martin Kelner (Wisden Sports Writing) is available now, £18.99

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Life’S GOOD wHen... yOu’re entertaineD, On tHe mOve Much as we’d like it to, life doesn’t always throw up entertaining moments for us – sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands. Whether it’s on your daily commute to work, or the occasional long journey, the LG Optimus 4X HD has you covered, with the power and performance to run any app that imaginative Android development community can throw at it. So if you’re playing Angry Birds or browsing the web for video content, you’ll find loading times much quicker. After all – if you’re on your phone because you’re waiting for your train to work, your phone shouldn’t be keeping you waiting as well. Of course, you’ll hardly realise you’re on your phone because all that video content will look great on the Optimus 4X HD’s incredible display. The 4.7-inch True HD IPS screen has a resolution of 1280 x 720, so it’s super high clarity, and the 16:9 aspect ratio makes it perfect for enjoying films the way they were meant to be seen. LG have added MediaPlex to the Android-based OS – it adds features like Fingertip Seek and Live Zooming to video playback, so you can easily hone in on exactly what you want to see. As smartphones become ever more intelligent, performance becomes even more important. If you’re looking for a phone with the power to entertain you with games, videos and the best the web has to offer, look no further than the LG Optimus 4X HD.

Life’S GOOD wHen... yOur cHarGer can Stay at HOme Of course all that processing power means nothing if your phone battery doesn’t have enough endurance to make it through the day. The LG Optimus 4X’s NVIDIA 4-PLUS-1 mobile processor doesn’t just have the power of four cores for speed and performance; it’s also cleverly constructed to give you power when you need it, but save battery life when you don’t. The 4X HD comes with a 2,150mAH battery – it’s larger and longer-lasting than any other quadcore smartphone on the market, but doesn’t add bulk to the phones smart design. There’s more – the Optimus 4X HD’s clever quad-core processor utilises a fifth ’battery-saver’ core. So, if your phone is on standby, or you’re listening to music with it in your pocket, your battery isn’t being drained. Thanks to its Tegra 4-PLUS-1 processor, the LG Optimus 4X HD offers incredible power, but also amazing endurance, so you can be confident it will last through the day. The LG Optimus 4X HD offers speed, power and endurance, and is available from Phones4U. For more information, visit lg.com/uk/4XHD

Advertising Feature

The 2,150mAh battery is the largest of any quadcore smartphone, holding a greater charge without impacting on phone design

The 4.7” True HD IPS screen has a resolution of 1280 x 720, and a 16:9 aspect ratio great for widescreen viewing. Text is sharper and easier to read NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 Quadcore intelligently manages all four cores when needed and differs to a fifth battery-saver core for less demanding tasks to maximise power efficiency

MediaPlex software makes video playback a dream – with features like Fingertip Seek and Live Zooming

The 4X HD runs Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, so you can customise your phone and download apps to your heart’s content

LG’s QMemo software lets you quickly jot down notes from whatever application you’re in at the time

7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

THURSDAY > TENNIS |

US Open and Olympic champion Andy Murray is back on court next week, with the celebratory champagne probably still flowing – around him that is, not through him. The Scot is almost religiously sober. He heads to Tokyo with a clear head, then, full of good memories of last year’s tournament, where he was in imperious form. He took both the men’s singles and doubles titles – the latter alongside his brother Jamie. But it was in the singles final against Rafael Nadal where the British number one really impressed, coming back from losing the opening set to win the title – even leaving Nadal with what the Americans like to call a ‘bagel’ in the final set.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

» Football: Premier League » p42 »Football: Champions League » p44 » Rugby League: Super League Playoffs » p46 » Rugby Union: Harlequins v Saracens » p46 » UFC: Struve v Miocic » p48

RAKUTEN JAPAN OPEN | ARIAKE COLOSSEUM | SKY SPORTS 2 4AM

Murray’s grand return

40 | September 28 2012 |

SEPHIGHLIGHTS 28-OCT 4

“He was unstoppable,” said Nadal after his defeat, claiming “only a few players could have beaten Murray today”. The Spaniard won just four points in the entire final set as Murray – then world number four – completed a superb fortnight in the Far East, having taken the Thailand Open just a week earlier. This year, Tokyo will be the first stop in Asia for the Scot, who was recently welcomed back from New York with a bus parade in front of thousands in his hometown of Dunblane. But if he can shake off the jet lag and adapt to the conditions swiftly enough, the line-up contains little cause for concern. With Nadal still resting his unreliable knees, Roger Federer claiming he’s exhausted and in

need of some time off, and Novak Djokovic choosing the China Open over Japan next week, Tomas Berdych is the highest-ranked challenger to Murray in Tokyo. The Czech world number seven lost to Murray in the semi finals of the US Open earlier this month, blaming his defeat in part on the high winds swirling around Flushing Meadows throughout their four-set match. US Open quarter-finalist Janko Tipsarevic is also set to feature, along with Japanese number one Kei Nishikori. The 22-year-old world number 26 became the first Japanese player to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam since 1995 when he made the quarters in Australia this year (if you can name the other, tweet us @Sportmaguk – we’ll be mightily impressed). Murray won’t necessarily be the biggest draw in town, then. But he is the only one with a Grand Slam title to his name. At long last.

8,800

The population of Dunblane, where an estimated 15-20,000 people turned up to welcome Andy Murray home from his title-winning summer

7 Days

Premier League

saturday manchester united v tottenham old trafford | espn 5.30pm

This week’s action is a derby sandwich, with two sturdy all-London clashes surrounding a meaty Midlands ﬁlling saturday arsenal v chelsea | emirates stadium | sky sports 2 12.45pm

Manchester United are following their usual pattern of starting the season with games that they don’t deserve to win, but somehow manage to. Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side was lucky to leave Anfield with three points last weekend, after a particularly poor first half. It was a similar tale for Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, who saw his team booed off after a first half in which QPR went ahead – but two goals in 95 seconds (including a fourth of the season for Jermain Defoe) ensured a first home win of the campaign. Tomorrow, AVB takes his side to a ground where they’ve never won in the Premier League against a team that put six goals past them last season. On the plus side, Defoe and co may find things easier against a United team missing crocked captain Nemanja Vidic.

Feeling blue

sunday aston villa v west brom | villa park | ss2 4pm

Described as “someone you could go to war with” by his manager Roberto di Matteo, former Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole was the toast of Stamford Bridge last weekend. His first goal in 28 months kept the Blues top of the Premier League, prompting Di Matteo to label him “a legend... Chelsea through and through”. As if Arsenal fans didn’t dislike the man enough already. Their own left-back, Kieran Gibbs, is in fine form. The 22-year-old has struggled to stay fit in previous seasons, but is now starting to look like the player Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger always insisted he was capable of being. He’s not the only one, either. Right-back Carl Jenkinson has started the season so well that Bacary Sagna might face a battle to get back in the side once he’s recovered from injury. While it was Cole who broke the deadlock for Chelsea against a stubborn Stoke side, Arsenal’s saviour at the Etihad last weekend also emerged from their back line – Laurent Koscielny thumping in a late equaliser to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

42 | September 28 2012 |

Chelsea, too, are unbeaten in the league, but their position at the top of the table does perhaps flatter them a little. Indeed, Wenger’s claim that no team looks unbeatable so far might have been aimed at last year’s champions, but it also rings true for the Blues. Arsenal were undefeated against Chelsea last season, with John Terry’s comical slip during the Gunners’ 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge capping a dreadful day for the home team. Having endured a tricky week off the pitch, Terry’s state of mind may not be any better now than it was then (when allegations that he had racially abused Anton Ferdinand were fresh). Another eight-goal thriller is possibly too much to hope for, however, with both teams conceding only twice so far this season.

Times Arsene Wenger has faced Chelsea as the Arsenal manager. His record to date is 19 wins, 12 draws and 13 defeats

At half time in their match at Southampton last weekend, Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert would have felt his side were on for a second successive win. At full time, his side were 4-1 losers, having regressed from the performance that gave them a win over Swansea a week previously. “You can’t defend as deep as that and expect to get a 1-0,” said Lambert afterwards, his only positive being Darren Bent’s first goal of the season. Villa now lag six points behind Midlands rivals West Brom, whose on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku helped secure their third win of the season last weekend. Under Roy Hodgson, the Baggies got their first win at Villa Park since 1979 last season. Under Steve Clarke, a second could be on the cards if Villa fail to – literally – step up their defensive game.

Three is the magic number for Everton, in third place after putting three past Swansea last weekend. On Saturday, however, they take on a Southampton side buoyed after climbing off the foot of the table with a first league win of the season against Villa. The Toffees have failed to win on their past three visits to St Mary’s (2005 being the most recent) – but David Moyes’ current crop will expect to alter that statistic tomorrow.

saturday stoke v swansea britannia stadium | 3pm

Swansea’s flying start to the season seems a long time ago. They’ve conceded seven in their past three league games, and lost two in a row. Now they travel to Stoke, where Tony Pulis’ side have held off Man City and Arsenal this season. A first defeat came at Chelsea last weekend, but few would have griped had Stoke taken a point from there, too. A tough ask for the Swans, and a good chance for Stoke to get their first win.

saturday fulham v man city craVen cottage | 3pm

It’s two draws on the trot for Manchester City, who face a Fulham side with two wins in two. City have yet to taste victory away from home in the league so far, while Fulham have won both their games at the Cottage. They’ve not beaten City in the past three seasons, though, a Sergio Aguero (pictured) brace securing a draw in London last season. Roberto Mancini needs the Argentine back in that form tomorrow, and he needs a win.

saturday sunderland v wigan stadium of light | 3pm

The glamour tie of the weekend sees draw specialists Sunderland take on Wigan. Latics boss Roberto Martinez was left bemoaning his side’s defensive frailty after defeat by Fulham last weekend, while Black Cats manager Martin O’Neill was equally frustrated by his side’s inability to kill off a game they led for 81 minutes before Kevin Nolan’s last-gasp strike for West Ham. Put the two together and what do you get? A draw, probably.

saturday norwich v liVerpool carrow road | 3pm

“Periods of struggle are unavoidable,” proclaimed Clive Owen while narrating the Being: Liverpool documentary shown on Channel 5 last Friday. Despite not actually playing that badly, this period is exactly as Owen described for Liverpool. Still, Luis Suarez will have positive memories of Carrow Road, having scored a hat-trick there last season. If he can inspire another Reds win, it might just kick-start their season.

monday qpr v west ham | loftus road | sky sports 1 8pm

The Hammers haven’t won at Loftus Road since 1988, a statistic Big Sam will fancy changing. But while QPR reside in the doldrums of the league table, Allardyce will be wise not to underestimate Mark Hughes’ side. Having been labelled ‘plucky’ for their performances in London derbies against Tottenham and Chelsea, Hughes believes his team are at the right level to survive in the top flight. Now they just need the results to prove it.

saturday reading v newcastle madejski stadium | 3pm

Royals boss Brian McDermott has told his side to come out fighting against Newcastle. They’re rooted to the bottom of the table with one point, and are in desperate need of a sign they’re not on a one-way ticket back to the Championship. The Magpies should be bolstered by the return from injury of midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote (pictured), a player they’ve missed. And with Demba Ba back in scoring form, they’ll be more than up for the fight.

Premier League table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

P Chelsea 5 Man Utd 5 Everton 5 West Brom 5 Arsenal 5 Fulham 5 Man City 5 Tottenham 5 West Ham 5 Newcastle 5 Swansea 5 Sunderland 4 Stoke 5 Aston Villa 5 Wigan 5 Southampton 5 Norwich 5 Liverpool 5 QPR 5 Reading 4

W 4 4 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

D L 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 3 0 0 2 3 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 4 0 4 1 1 3 1 3 0 4 3 2 2 3 2 3 1 3

F 9 12 9 7 9 12 10 8 5 6 10 4 4 5 5 9 2 4 3 4

A 2 6 5 4 2 7 7 6 4 6 7 4 5 9 10 15 8 10 11 9

Pts 13 12 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 8 7 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1

Liverpool have failed to win any of their opening five league games for the first time since the 1911-12 season

| 43

All pictures Getty Images

saturday eVerton v southampton | goodison pk | 3pm

7 Days

Champions League TUESDAY group H: CFr Cluj-NapoCa v MaN utd | ItV1 7.45pM

Arsenal welcome the Greek champions on matchday two, while Manchester United take a trip to Transylvania TUESDAY group E: FC NordsjaEllaNd v CHElsEa | ss2 7.45pM

all games on sky sports 4 red button, unless specified

The Reds will be hoping to avoid a fright in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca, the capital of the historical province of Transylvania. The region’s most famous export is of course a bloodsucking half-man, half-bat who bears an uncanny resemblance to a recently departed United forward. CFR Cluj pulled off a smash-and-grab win over Braga two weeks ago, but then they also won their opener the previous two occasions they qualified for the Champions League proper – and then failed to win another game for the rest of the tournament. That said, they demonstrated with their 2-0 win in the AXA Stadium how

dangerous they can be on the counter. Braga had 23 attempts on target to Cluj’s four, but still fell to a Rafael Bastos brace. United, meanwhile, secured a nervy home win over Galatasaray in which they created plenty of chances but took just one – and gave away plenty at the other end. Robin van Persie (above) will need to be at his clinical best. Expect A United win, but not without a scare or two. And, no, we’re not still talking about vampires. Don’t expect Nani to be anywhere near the ball if United win a penalty.

The Danish side’s Champions League debut was a tricky away tie at Shakhtar, which they lost 2-0. Unfortunately for Nordsjaelland, the first-time Superliga champions from the island of Zealand, their next game is even harder: they welcome holders Chelsea to their 10,000-capacity Farum Park stadium. The Blues’ opener against Juventus was very much the Oscar show, with the Brazilian youngster scoring twice in his first start for the club – but Roberto di Matteo’s side have made an excellent start in all competitions. Juve did expose potential frailties in Chelsea’s midfield (yes, we mean you Mikel), especially with

the peerless Andrea Pirlo pulling the strings. With the greatest of respect to Nordsjaelland’s midfield trio, however, they lack the quality to pose a similar threat – despite their reputation as the ‘Danish Barcelona’. On that note, keep an eye out for 21-year-old Andreas Laudrup, who had a nine-minute cameo against Shakhtar and whose father Michael once gave the real Barcelona a touch of Danish dynamite. Expect Goals galore from Chelsea’s talented and expensive frontline. Don’t expect Fernando Torres to get any.

Also on Tuesday

Group E: Juventus v Sh Donetsk, 7.45pm Group F: BATE v Bayern Munich, 7.45pm Group F: Valencia v Lille, 7.45pm

Group G: Benfica v Barcelona, 7.45pm Group G: Spartak Moscow v Celtic, 5pm SS2 Group H: Galatasaray v Braga, 7.45pm

Group A: Dyn Kiev v Din Zagreb, 7.45pm Group A: FC Porto v PSG, 7.45pm Group B: Schalke v Montpellier, 7.45pm

Group C: Zenit v AC Milan, 5pm SS2 Group C: Anderlecht v Malaga, 7.45pm Group D: Ajax v Real Madrid, 7.45pm

WEDNESDAY group B: arsenal v olympiaCos | sky sports 4 7.45pm

All pictures Getty Images

WEDNESDAY group d: man City v Borussia dortmund | ss2 7.45pm

Also on Wednesday

The Citizens had a taste of their own rather expensive medicine at the start of their Champions League sophomore season, as goals from Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo (total cost: at least £125m) eclipsed those of Edin Dzeko (pictured) and Aleksandar Kolarov (total cost: £43m). Dortmund have no such riches, but still have one of the most exciting teams in Europe, despite the departure of Shinji Kagawa to Old Trafford this summer. They won the German double last season, but their 31-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end last weekend. So, now is probably as good a time as any to be

welcoming Die Schwarzgelben and their wonderfully vocal away support. Dortmund left it late in their first game, relying on a Robert Lewandowski goal three minutes from time to deservedly bag three points. City will feel hard done by after their Bernabeu experience, but need to get off the mark if they’re going to make it out of the Group of Champions. Expect Niall Quinn to gush with praise for City on the co-commentary, whatever the result. Don’t expect A clean sheet – City have conceded 11 goals in seven games.

With Pepe Reina letting shots slip through his fingers and Man City defenders diving out of the way of goal-bound efforts, it’s fallen to Arsenal’s traditionally leaky defence to prop up the goals conceded column in the Premier League. Olympiacos did put three past them in last year’s groups (with Arsenal already having qualified), and the overall record stands at two wins apiece – Arsenal have won both games in London, Olympiacos both in Greece. The Greek champions lost to Schalke a fortnight ago, but dominated at the Karaiskakis Stadium, which manager Leonardo Jardim called “a powerful weapon”.

They have been somewhat impotent without said weapon though , winning just one of their past six Champions League away games. Arsenal should be confident, then, of sticking a few past Olympiacos keeper Roy Carroll (if he plays) and collecting three points. Or at least they would be, if their front line didn’t consist of the profligate Gervinho (three goals in his past three games excepted) and Olivier Giroud (pictured). Expect An array of baffling misses. Don’t expect Arsene Wenger on the Arsenal bench. He’s still banned.

7 Days Friday Rugby League | StobaRt SupeR League pLayoffS: Wigan WaRRioRS v LeedS RhinoS | dW Stadium | Sky SpoRtS 2 8pm

Grand expectations For much of the season, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves have been the form teams in Super League – and they will still be favourites to face each other in next Saturday’s Grand Final at Old Trafford. However, given their opponents in this weekend’s semi finals – respectively, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens – nothing can be taken for granted. Leeds and Saints have contested four of the past five Grand Finals, and know all about getting to Old Trafford. On paper it’s Wigan, who themselves chose to face the Rhinos through the innovative Club Call system, who have the

easier task. They have home advantage, have had a week off to watch Leeds come through a bruising encounter with Catalan Dragons in Perpignan, and will be keen on revenge for their Challenge Cup semi final defeat by the Rhinos (pictured) back in July. But Leeds, who welcome back prop Kylie Leuluai after suspension, will not want to give up their crown without a fight; they overcame the table-topping Warrington in their own backyard in the semis last year, and will push Wigan all the way tonight. Warrington, who were soundly beaten by St Helens two weeks ago, must go to

Langtree Park on Saturday (Sky Sports 2, 6.15pm), when they will hope prop Garreth Carvell and Man of Steel nominee Ben Westwood have recovered from injury to take on a Saints side eyeing a seventh consecutive Grand Final appearance. Given their poor start and the sacking of their coach after a handful of games, Saints have done well to still be involved at this stage of the season. Hooker James Roby and rampaging forward Sia Soliola will both prove huge threats to the Wolves – but, with a Grand Final spot awaiting the winner, there will be no holding back from either side.

Sunday Rugby union | aviva pRemieRShip: haRLeQuinS v SaRaCenS | tWiCkenham Stoop | Sky SpoRtS 1 2pm

Gareth Copley/Getty Images, Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Saracens will have had plenty of time to reflect on their defeat to Exeter last Sunday on the long bus journey home – and they won’t have felt any better when they looked at the fixture list. next up is harlequins away. four wins from four for Conor o’Shea’s men sees them top of the pile again, and last week’s victory at Leicester – Quins were the first to win there in 11 months – sent a message that last season was no one-off. “in the first half, we showed we were a good rugby side,” said o’Shea after his side’s 22-9 win (pictured).

“in the second, we showed the heart you need to be a great rugby side.” it’s hard to argue. harlequins possess a steel that Saracens are going to have to penetrate if they’re to avoid falling a possible 12 points behind their London rivals after five games. it’s been a tough two weeks for mark mcCall’s men, that defeat to exeter coming on the back of a 9-9 draw with Leicester. Lose again and it will feel like another long journey home on Sunday.

Capital collision 46 | September 28 2012 |

7 Days SATURDAY UFC | STRUVE v MIOCIC | CAPITAL FM ARENA, NOTTINGHAM | ESPN 9PM

Greatest hits

Few people would mistake Nottingham, England on a Saturday night for Las Vegas, Nevada, unless some heavy drink had been taken first. But walk into the Capital FM Arena this Saturday night and you will find 22 of the UFC’s finest fighters trading heavy blows. Devoid of an official UFC number (the numbered events are reserved for the biggest UFC markets: Vegas, Brazil, UFC 152 in Toronto last weekend), this one’s effectively a spread-the-word, test-the-waters mission. Heavyweights Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic (pictured, left) top a bill littered with English fighters, including the unbeaten Scouser Paul ‘Sassangle’ Sass, who’ll inevitably stop Matt ‘Handsome’ Wiman with his trusty triangle choke (13 fights, 13 wins). Most eyes will be on Dan Hardy, back on home soil from his base in Vegas and looking to knock Amir Sadollah into Sunday morning.

The curious format of British Superbikes always throws up some exciting end-of-season action, and that looks set to continue at Silverstone on Sunday, with the second of three showdown rounds. Ahead of these showdown rounds, the top six riders in the standings separate off into their own mini-league, taking with them 500 points (why not?) and a further total worked out according to their podium finishes through the season. All of which means that, after the first two of six showdown races, Australian Josh Brookes has a slender two-point lead over Shane Byrne. There’s 20 points back to Britain’s Tommy Hill in third, but the defending champ has won more races than anyone this year and will be desperate to close the gap on Sunday.

Silverstone showdown BEST OF THE REST

FRIDAY CRICKET World T20: Super Eights Group 2: Pakistan v South Africa, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sky Sports 2 10am

CRICKET World T20: Super Eights Group 2: Australia v India, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sky Sports 2 2pm

SATURDAY CRICKET World T20: Super Eights Group 1: England v New Zealand, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy, Sky Sports 3 10am

FOOTBALL La Liga: Sevilla v Barcelona, Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Sky Sports 4 9pm

NFL Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots, Ralph Wilson Stadium, New York, Sky Sports 4 5.30pm

SUNDAY

MONDAY

ATHLETICS Berlin Marathon, Germany, British Eurosport 7.45am

CRICKET World T20: Super Eights Group 1: Sri Lanka v England, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy, Sky Sports 1 2pm

RUGBY LEAGUE NRL Grand Final, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Sky Sports 4 8am FOOTBALL Championship: Nottingham Forest v Derby, City Ground, Sky Sports 2 1.15pm

NFL Chicago Bears v Dallas Cowboys (featuring Major Wright, pictured), United Center, Chicago, BBC Red Button 1.25am

WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL SPL: Aberdeen v Hibernian, Pittodrie, ESPN 11.30am RUGBYUNIONRugbyChampionship: South Africa v Australia, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, Sky Sports 2 3.30pm

48 | September 28 2012 |

CRICKET World T20: Super Eights Group 2: India v Pakistan, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sky Sports 3 2pm

FOOTBALL Superclasico de las Americas: Argentina v Brazil, El Monumental Stadium, Buenos Aires, ESPN 2am

MOTORSPORT MOTO GP: Round 14, Motorland Aragon Circuit, Spain, British Eurosport 2 2pm

THURSDAY CRICKET Women’s World T20: Semi Finals, R Premadasa Stadium, Sky Sports 1 9.30am

Donald Miralle/Zuﬀa LLC/Zuﬀa LLC via Getty Images, All Rights Double Red, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SUNDAY MOTORSPORT | BRITISH SUPERBIKES: ROUND 11 | SILVERSTONE | BRITISH EUROSPORT 2 12.25PM

Competition

Win! NBA 2K13 + a 360 or PS3! BA 2K13 is here and, to celebrate the latest edition of the world’s most popular basketball game, Sport has teamed up with 2K Sports to give away a copy of the game and a games console of their choice to one lucky reader. Three runners up will also win a copy of the game for the console of their choice (Xbox 360 or PS3). NBA 2K13 has been created in collaboration with Jay Z, who worked as an executive producer on the title, lending his artistic talents and creative vision to the game. Improvements to the series include an enhanced MyCareer mode and all-new gameplay features such as the ability to play as some of the legends of the sport.

For your chance to win, just answer this simple question: Who won the men’s basketball gold medal at the London Olympics? A China B USA C Micronesia TO ENTER, JUST TEXT NBA PLUS YOUR ANSWER A, B OR C AND YOUR NAME TO 81089 Texts costs 50p+ standard network charge. Competition closes at midnight on Thursday October 11. For full terms and conditions, visit sport-magazine.co.uk

Sport Promotion

Let the Ryder Cup get you in the mood! W hile Brandt Snedeker may be spending the week counting out $11.5m in dollar notes and organising them into piles, there will be a voice niggling away at him mind asking: “Are you London’s Best Golfer though? Are you?” To be honest, we don’t care for meaningless monetary giveaways – only titles are important to us. And, more specifically, our search to find both London’s Best Golfer and London’s

Luckiest Golfer. Hot on the heels of Luke Donald’s bid last week comes an exemplary performance from DJ Trevor Nelson, who has thrown his hat into the ring at one under par. While Luke has “a few big events coming up” and is therefore unlikely to attend the final, we see the big-hitting Alistair Downes at the head of the ‘others’ at two under par. In Ryder Cup week, why not head to Urban Golf and have a few tries at posting a score? www.urbangolf.co.uk/londonsbestgolfer

The LeAderBOArd (scores over nine holes) 1. Luke Donald 30 (-6) 2. Alistair Downes 34 (-2) 3=. Trevor Nelson 35 (-1) David Andrews 35 (-1) Fraser Devlin 35 (-1) John Willcox 35 (-1) 7. Sean Cook 36 (level) 8=. Tony Moss 37 (+1) Mark Richards 37 (+1) 10.= Chris Marsterson Smith 38 (+2) Luke Carby 38 (+2)

| 49

P55 Kit up with the very latest golf gear. Then sit down and watch the golf on the telly

Extra time Gadgets

Making the most of your time and money

Mobile music

1. iPod Touch Looking all the better for its recent makeover, the new iPod Touch has a slighter build, with a four-inch Retina display and aluminium body enclosing an A5 dual-core chip and iSight camera – although we’ve never actually seen anyone use the front-facing camera outside of video-chatting to their diverse group of friends in Apple ads. From £169 | apple.com/uk

But not actually on your mobile. Ignore the misleading headline – here’s our pick of the best standalone MP3 players

2. Sony Walkman F800 Still going strong after 33 years, Sony’s flagship music player bears little resemblance to the chunky cassette player you used to listen to Now! 23 on. This version runs Ice Cream Sandwich, Android’s latest flavour, and has both Bluetooth and Wi-fi capabilities. Super. £TBC | sony.co.uk

3. Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 The standout feature on Samsung’s latest player has to be the FM radio, which lets you tune into local broadcasts from anywhere in the country. Amazing stuff. There’s also apps and games if, for some bizarre reason, the annoying tones of Nick Grimshaw on Radio 1 aren’t your thing. £130 | amazon.co.uk

50 | September 28 2012 |

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Extra time Sophie Horn

Around the Horn

52 | September 28 2012 |

love the Ryder Cup,” gushes Sophie Horn. “It’s just one of those great sporting events that everyone gets into, even if they don’t like golf.” Sophie – increasingly known in golfing circles as ‘The Horn’ – will be watching it in the pub with friends (“couldn’t blag my way out there”). So if you spot her propping up the bar, be sure to pick her brains – because the 3-handicapper certainly knows her stuff. “I think Ollie made a couple of great wild card picks,” she begins. “Colsaerts hits the ball so far – great fourball option – and Poults... well, you have to have Poults in your team, don’t you? He’s so competitive and, to be fair, backs it up – he has an awesome record. “Europe has a brilliant team, really strong in every department. The course is on Luke Donald’s doorstep, Rory McIlroy is in great form, and I think Paul Lawrie will be a real dark horse – he’s very steady. And Ollie will be a great captain – he’s so respected in the game, but he’ll bring that bit of Seve with him too.” When she stops to draw breath, we ask about her own game (the last time we spoke, she was considering playing on tour): “I still love playing, but there’s a lot of other stuff I want to do – media work and that sort of thing, and I don’t think it fits in with trying to get a tour card. So I’m going to carry on doing what I’m doing.” That includes expanding her kit range (Horn belts, Horn balls, Horn clothing) and organising a ‘Horn Tour’ around some of the top De Vere golf courses in the country. We mention this merely for the fact that her par-3 challenge will be called ‘Get Inside The Horn’... Not only that, but she is also set to indulge her other passion – fast cars – by becoming a test driver for Lovecars (‘a social network for people who love cars’). “I see myself as a female Stig, but I’ll do it the Horn way,” she begins again, before tailing off. “Sorry, I’m rambling.” A busy girl, our Horn. Follow @sophiehorn on Twitter

| 53

Rory Gullan for golfingworld.tv

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). MAC13569

Talking to your family about cancer can be really tough. But a chat with one of our experts on the Macmillan Support Line can help you ﬁnd the words you need. So you and your family can face the future, together. This is just one of the ways the Macmillan team can help you through cancer. Our medical professionals, cancer support specialists and beneﬁts advisers are just a phone call away.

For cancer support every step of the way call the Macmillan team free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm)

or visit macmillan.org.uk

Extra time Golf kit

Links effect 2

Summer may be over, but there’s still plenty of shiny new golf kit to buy. Roll on 2013, and the chance to use it in the sun 1

3 4

Fast Jacket BIOM and Scott 1Oakley 2 Ecco 3 Lyle XL Golf Specific Gore-Tex Shoe Placed Stripe

HEX 4 Callaway Black Tour Ball

See the ball better, read the putts... more and more golfers are wearing shades on the course. These are some of the best on the market. £190 | uk.oakley.com

Now, quite what do we say about this jumper? Lyle and Scott do make some of the very nicest golf clothing – and now they make the brightest, too. £95 | lyleandscott.com

Callaway balls are winning more and more tour events: this one gives more distance and control. If you hit it right. £39.99/doz | callawaygolf.com

Red ZL 5Cobra Encore Driver

Crossflex JPX825 Green 6adidas 7 Mizuno 8 Galvin Golf Shoe Pro Irons Almer Paclite

Aimed at the better golfer, the ZL Encore is the most technologically advanced driver ever from Cobra. As used by this week’s cover star. £319 | cobragolf.com

Ultra-lightweight at just under 11 ounces, this shoe is built on a running mould and is designed with style in mind. You won’t know you’re wearing it. £64.99 | adidasgolf.eu

This shoe comes with all of the benefits of the popular BIOM, but Ecco claims it’s as waterproof as any golf shoe on the market. Timely, then. £199 | ecco.com/golf

The Mizuno MP irons are some of the best out there, but are suited to better players. These give more forgiveness. £90/120 per club | golf.mizunoeurope.com

It’s not cheap, but then you get what you pay for with Galvin Green – and this logoed jacket would even have kept you dry at Celtic Manor in 2010. > £260 | galvingreen.com

| September 28 2012 | 55

Extra time Golf kit

9 Bridgestone B330 Ball

13Mizuno Aerolite Bag

Here you are looking at a golf ball that has just won a cool $11m. Brandt Snedeker, FedEx Cup winner and multimillionaire, gets a very nice tune from it indeed. Can you? £44.99/dozen | bridgestonegolf.com

How much technology can you pack into one bag? Try ImpermaLite fabric, heat-welded zippers, Kabuki Organiser Top Cuff with ‘divide and slide’, SliderStrap, AeroStrap, Cable Grip, HydroSleeve, Shower Cap, Quicksnap rainhood... and relax. £170 | golf.mizunoeurope.com

Made 11Taylor GhostSpider S

14Aquascutum Club Check

If you want more stability with your putter, then Taylor Made says this is the club for you. Based on its other successful Ghost models, it is easier to square at impact and therefore control. £149 | taylormadegolf.eu

If you want to feel good on the course, then this Aquascutum slipover is a touch of quality. Very tidy. £150 | aquascutumgolf.com

Swingtip 12 Nike Golf Shoe 10

913D 10 Titleist Driver A certain Rory McIlroy took this driver out on tour for the first time recently – and the results were incredible. Nobody has played as well as Rory of late, and hopefully this driver will continue to perform for him at Medinah this weekend... £344 | titleist.co.uk

56 | September 28 2012 |

Nike turned to surfers and skateboarders for inspiration when it designed its new shoe, and this is the result: the latest golf street shoe. It might not look it, but the Swingtip is big on traction and stability. £90 | nikegolf.eu

X7 15Odyssey Putter Modified mallets are all the rage right now – and this is one of the best on the market. Its weighted alignment wings give it more stability and its double-bend shaft helps alignment. Over to you. £109 | callawaygolf.com

Neo 19Puma Classic ProType

Ian Poulter’s shoes come in surprisingly traditional colours: either black and white or, er, white and black. They look like traditional golf shoes should, but they pack an awful lot of technology in there too. Classy. £175 | puma.com/golf

It’s very probably going to rain in Chicago at some stage during the Ryder Cup, and Team Europe will be wearing ProQuip to keep them dry. This is the version of the suit that you can have too, though. £329 (whole suit) | proquipgolf.com

FootJoy have been making top-of-the-range shoes for donkeys’ years, and the Sport is the latest. Looks stylish and performs well. £110 | footjoy.co.uk

We’re big fans of the talking GPS here at Sport. Thankfully it doesn’t shout ‘Get in the hole!’ after every swing, but it will give you precise yardages on 33,000 worldwide courses. £159 | gpsgolfbuddy.eu

Proquip Trophy Rain Suit

FootJoy Sport Golf Shoe

GolfBuddy Voice

Tour 20 Ping Gorge Wedge

Complete with ‘grooves milled in Arizona’, the Tour Gorge comes in a variety of lofts from 47 to 60 degrees, with three different sole widths for all the control you want. £113/£135 | ping.com

| 57

Extra time Games

October fest

PC, 360, PS3, Wii U

Returns for some of the most popular franchises in gaming should make next month a particularly good one... PC, PS3, 360

Medal of Honor: Warﬁghter Developed with the help of Tier One special operatives – the best of the best of the US army – this release has ambitions of being the most accurate combat sim yet. The banter between soldiers feels grittier and more authentic, but it’s still a run-and-gunner in the mould of Call of Duty – not surprising really, considering those behind it also worked on the Modern Warfare story arc. Release date October 23

Assassin’s Creed 3

After three trips to Italy in as many years, Ubisoft’s immensely successful time-hopping adventure series crosses the pond to 18th-century eastern America, during the time of the American Revolution. While at first it feels weird sneaking away from a full-scale battlefield to find your target, you’ll soon warm to the

idea of leaping from tree to tree in fluid movements. Protagonist Connor is more aggressive than previous assassins, his agility allowing him to piece chain kills together in rapid succession. You even get to hop behind the wheel of a battleship and engage in a spot of naval warfare. Release date October 30

In association with PC, 360, PS3

PC, 360, PS3

007 Legends

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Daniel Craig rolls back the years in an ambitious title that retells six classic James Bond films, and then ties them together in an overarching narrative. No Bond first-person shooter is ever likely to live up to the majesty of N64 classic Goldeneye, but if you’re prepared to accept that then you will find this a thrilling shooter to leave you stirred, not shaken. Release date October 19

Turn-based strategy games may not be the sexiest or most explosive genre, but this one right here has some serious pedigree, with a lineage going back to the 1990s. The game plays out differently with every new visit; and, intriguingly, when a member of your squad dies, they actually stay dead. So grab a hankie. Release date October 12

PC, 360, PS3

360

Doom 3: BFG Edition

Fable: The Journey

Back in the day, Doom was one of gaming’s greatest shooting series, and this update of the classic 2004 threequel aims to introduce its scares to a new generation. With hugely enhanced graphics, Doom 3 looks every bit the equal of its peers, but the gameplay hasn’t aged so gracefully. Also, don’t ask what the ‘BFG’ stands for. Release date October 19

It’s slim pickings for Kinect owners at the moment but, if you’re desperate to get your jig on, you could do worse than pick up this flawed but enjoyable action-adventure. It riffs off the quaint RPG series of the same name, and the magic casting and horseriding sections are enthralling examples of motion controls done right. Release date October 9

Extra time Grooming the stylinG ranGe

Go green We’re asking you nicely to hulk out with clay, lime and gunpowder – because you wouldn’t like us when we’re angry

£11.95 for 204ml £11.95 for 213ml

Fudge Matte Mineral Textures Sourced from bedrock quarries in France, Fudge has put green clay into six new hair-styling products (from left): Classic Clay Wax, which adds structure and shape to short hair; Raw Vintage Clay, designed to create unstructured styles; Anti-Frizz Deconstruction Spray, which holds curl and prevents frizz; Aerosol Rock Spray, which controls and crafts ‘up-dos’; French Styling Milk, which defines and distresses; and Creative Styling Dust, which we don’t recommend you leave on the dinner table next to the pepper. fudge.com

£13.95 for 50ml

£13.95 for 10g £13.95 for 70g

£13.95 for 70g

the bOdy wash and shave creaM

the FraGrance MOistUriser

Crabtree & Evelyn West Indian Lime

Comme des Garcons AMAZINGREEN

Just like Des Lynam, Crabtree & Evelyn’s new range is invigoratingly scented and exceptionally soothing. Unlike Des, its shave cream helps protect against razor burn because it moisturises the skin with glycerine and antioxidant-rich vitamin E. Its body wash, meanwhile, features naturally deodorising lime, ginger root and vetiver extracts, as well as glycerine for added moisture. Use often, and forever be known as Des Lime-man. crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

This new fragrance is, Comme des Garcons tell us, “an astounding blast of green energy”. Just like the Incredible Hulk, we imagined – but it turns out this fragrance has slightly more subtle elements to it, too, because top notes of green pepper and jungle leaves complement a heart of flint and coriander. The base notes are where Bruce Banner starts to get angry, however, with a smoky explosion of gunpowder and white musk. Breaking with comic-book convention and going against borrowed catchphrases, though, we really do like AMAZINGREEN when it’s angry. selfridges.com

60 | September 28 2012 |

£12 for 100g

£14 for 300ml

£75 for 100ml

K E Y F E AT U R E S FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM

Build your Ultimate Team of football stars by earning, buying, selling and trading players and items within the FIFA community. Create, manage and compete with multiple squads in new competitions each week. Use the new EA SPORTS™ Football Club App For iPhone to manage your squad, search live auctions and bid to win new players.

EA SPORTS FOOTBALL CLUB

CAREER MODE

Connect, compete and share with friends. Everything within the game, and against friends, is measured in a meaningful way. Build status as you climb 100 levels, unlock rewards in the all-new Football Club Catalogue, and enjoy live challenges based on real-world football games. Support Your Club and compete against rivals, lifting your club higher in the league tables or helping them avoid relegation.

Compete for club and country.

Career Mode has been expanded to include internationals. Play for or manage your favourite national team, competing in friendlies, qualiﬁers and major international tournaments. Play as manager and secure an offer to coach any national team, with bigger decisions and more pressure. Compete as a player and prove yourself at the club level, then get the call to play for your country.

OUT TODAY EASPORTSFOOTBALL.COM

© 2012 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, and the EA SPORTS logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Ofﬁcial FIFA licensed product. “© The FIFA name and OLP Logo are copyright or trademark protected by FIFA. All rights reserved.” Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. The Premier League Logo © The Football Association Premier League Limited 2006. The Premier League Logo is a trade mark of the Football Association Premier League Limited which is registered in the UK and other jurisdictions. The Premier League Club logos are copyright works and registered trademarks of the respective Clubs. All are used with the kind permission of their respective owners. Manufactured under licence from the Football Association Premier League Limited. No association with nor endorsement of this product by any player is intended or implied by the licence granted by the Football Association Premier League Limited to Electronic Arts. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3”, “Ã’’ and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

9/10 “ The best football game money can buy ” “ GAME OF THE YEAR! ”

@thabomhlanga

“ #FIFA13

JUST AWESOME”

Winner of the prestigious E3 Game Critics award for “Best Sports Game”, FIFA 13 captures the unpredictability of real-world football, ensuring no two matches are ever the same. The game features breakthrough gameplay innovations that create a true battle for possession across the entire pitch and deliver freedom and creativity in attack, as well as engaging online features and live services that connect fans to the heartbeat of the sport — and to each other — through EA SPORTS™ Football Club. FIFA 13 is Football’s Social Network, where fans connect, compete and share with millions of others around the world.

@BillywilsonRRFC